News briefs for June 19, 2003

Thursday, June 19, 2003 | 9:49 a.m.

NLV approves billboard measure

The North Las Vegas City Council on Wednesday adopted the city's first official billboard overlay district, which essentially reinforced existing city laws that limit new billboards to industrial zones along Interstate 15 or Rancho Drive.

The new law, which was approved 4-0, also makes billboards permissible on commercially zoned properties along the highway or Rancho. City Development Services Director Donna Kristaponis said there are only two small commercially zoned properties along the highway.

As under the previous law, any new billboard must be approved by the City Council, Kristaponis said.

"There's very little changed by this ordinance," Kristaponis said.

But by creating a special zone for billboards, the council has given greater legal backing to the regulation that allows new billboards only near the highway or Rancho, she said.

Residents warned of gypsy burglaries

Four residential burglaries in the past month in which a "gypsy family" distracts residents while stealing money and jewelry has prompted Metro Police to ask citizens not to let strangers into their homes.

The burglaries occurred between May 29 and June 13, Metro Lt. Larry Spinosa said. The suspects get into the victims' homes by asking if their children can have a glass of water or asking to use the bathroom, police said. The victims have all been elderly.

The female suspect distracts the victims by talking to them, and the man and children steal items from the bedrooms.

The male and female suspects are described as between the ages of 25 and 35 and they may be Hispanic. They have been seen with two or three children, ranging in age from several months to 12 years old. They may be using a black sport utility vehicle or white van.

Anyone with information on these crimes is asked to call Metro's property crimes unit at 229-3573 or Crime Stoppers at 385-5555.

County to get $200,000 from PILT

Clark County will be receiving a small but welcome amount of money to help pay for local government needs including fire, police, parks and recreation and other government services.

"It turns out that were getting $200,000 more than we estimated. We're happy we're getting this money," Stacy Welling, a county spokeswoman, said.

The money will be dispersed into the county's general fund between September and November.

Through the payment-in-lieu-of-taxes program, Nevada's 17 counties will be sharing $13,132,942, which will compensate counties for non-taxable federal lands located within their boundaries. Sens. Harry Reid and John Ensign see the program as one of the key ways to administer basic government services.

Welling noted that rural counties with smaller populations will also benefit from the monies received.

"Every bit helps especially in this economy," she said.